First things first: Investing in early childhood and parenting in emergencies

Description

As part of a series of side events at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 21st September 2022, UNICEF co-hosted this high-level spotlight event with Sesame Workshop to galvanize global investment in parenting support and early childhood development (ECD) programmes, especially in areas affected by conflict and crisis.

Research shows that ECD and parenting interventions are a scalable and cost-effective tool for supporting caregivers’ mental health, promoting nurturing relationships between parents and children, and building resilience to help children thrive. This event was an opportunity to call for leadership and action to increase investment in ECD and parenting programmes so that all children have the support they need to overcome adversity and build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.

The event featured a high-level panel discussion with UNICEF, Sesame Workshop, the LEGO Foundation, the Government of Jordan, Universidad de los Andes, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra.